In the latest episode of Comedy Central’s Tha God’s Honest Truth with ‘Charlamagne’ Tha God, Charlamagne takes on one of the most polarizing topics in the country at the moment — critical race theory …. aka…. simply talking about and recognizing race in schools? The episode includes students at an HBCU (and Van Lathan) reacting to a lecture against critical race theory, as well as Charlamagne breaking down how racism and white supremacy are both so deeply embedded in our school system and teeing up critical race theory vs. critical racist theory.
Something highlighted in the discussion about white supremacy in schools is how white parents don’t have to fight for their kids to have a quality education. But as seen in New York City, white parents will live in gentrified, historically Black neighborhoods and in the same turn send their kids to school in affluent, white neighborhoods.
As Charlamagne explains, “They rent a property in affluent neighborhoods like Park Slope, and claim to live there. And get this. After registration day passes, those children can stay in the school district even if the parents stop renting there. But when black parents do the same thing, they are severely punished.”
But as we see what’s taking place across the country now, racism is seeping into school systems beyond the usual as critical race theory continues to be discussed in right-wing talking points.
“Even if your child is lucky enough to go to a school where the classrooms aren’t more crowded than the emergency room, after a crate challenge, they’re still in danger of being fed a critically racist curriculum,” Charlamagne added. “That’s because more and more states are legalizing lies and ignorance.”
He also referenced current cases of Black school administrator being unfairly reprimanded for pushing towards quality and Black parents getting treated unjustly of doing things to further their kids’ education.
- Kelly Williams-Bolar – in 2011 was sentenced to 10 days in jail, three years probation and 80 hours of community service after she was found guilty of using her father’s address instead of her own.
- Tonya McDowell – served time after a plea deal related to falsifying her resonance in an audit to change school districts, even though she was reportedly homeless at the time.
Also, the principal of a Texas high school received a disciplinary letter and was placed on administrative leave after penning a letter about stomping out ignorance, hate and systemic racism after the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmad Arbery.
Per VH1, Tha God’s Honest Truth features Charlamagne’s “culturally fluent take on social issues in a variety of deep dives, sketches, and social experiments that deftly unpacks the most pressing topics permeating politics and culture. Redemptively comedic, refreshingly unfiltered, and unapologetically Black, nothing is off limits. Lenard ‘Charlamagne’ McKelvey is bringing his influential, opinionated, thought-provoking perspective to late night.”
Check out clips from the episode below:
